CHEMICAL SUBSTANCE IDENTIFICATION

Chemical name

Hydrochloric acid

Synonyms

Hydrogen chloride; Muriatic acid; 7647-01-0; Chlorohydric acid; etc [1]

IUPAC name

chlorane [1]

CAS No

7647-01-0 and 7698-05-7 [1]

REACH registration number

-

EC No

231-595-7 and 231-715-8 [1]

Molecular formula

HCl or ClH[1]

Substance group/chemical family

Mono constituent substance/inorganic acid

Appearance

Physical state

Odour

Form

Colour

Solution, gas (Hydrogen chloride can exist in its gaseous form at normal temperature and pressure (vapour pressure: 42,200 hPa at 20°C), and is very soluble in water (water solubility: 823 g/L at 0°C) in the form of protons and chloride ions). [2]

irritating, sharp
gas, solution
Clear, colourless or slightly yellowish (in all forms) [1]   

USES AND HANDLING ISSUES

Relevant identified uses

Use in chemical industry, manufacture of fertilizers, hydrolysing of starch and proteins, in the preparation of various food products, pickling and cleaning of metal products, refining ore, leather deliming / tanning agents, oil- and gas-well treatment, textile scouring agents, removing scale from boilers and heat-exchange equipment, in the brewing industry, water treatment (pH control etc.), as laboratory reagent. [2]  

Handling considerations

See the Precautionary Statement Codes: P234, P260, P261, P264, P271, P280, P301+P330+P331, P303+P361+P353, P304+P340, P305+P351+P338, P310, P311, P312, P321, P363, P390, P403+P233, P404, P405, P410+P403, and P501 [1]

 PHYSICO-CHEMICAL PROPERTIES

Molecular weight

36.458 g/mol  [1]

Bulk density/Specific gravity

1.19 g/mL   (38% HCl concentration) (@ 20 °C and 1 atmosphere (101.325 kPa). [7]

pH

EC

1.7X10^-7 1/Ohm m at 158.94 K; 3.5X10^-7 1/Ohm m at 185.56 K [3]

Melting point

-114.2°C  [1, 4]  

Boiling point

-85.1°C  [1, 4] 

Flash point

Flammability

Non flammable (100%) [5]

Vapour density

1.268 (Air = 1.000) [1, 3, 4]

Vapour pressure

4 620 kPa @ 25 °C [5]

Solubility in water

823 g/L  at  0°C [2]

Solubility in organic solvents

 methanol: 47.0 g/100 g (20°C); etanol: 1.0 g/100 g (20°C)

Hydrolysis

HCl + H₂O = H₃O+ + Cl^– [2]

Ionicity in water

ionization potential: 12.74 eV [1]

Surface tension

23 mN/cm at 118.16 K [3]

Dispersion properties

Stability and reactivity

Chemical stability

instable [1].  Its aqueous solution (called hydrochloric acid) possesses strong acidity, and  reacts with most metals producing explosive hydrogen gas. Hydrogen chloride is readily dissociated in water into hydrated protons and chloride ion. [2]

Reactivity hazards

very reactive[1]

Corrosivity

Corrosive [1]

Polimerization

Aldehydes and epoxides in the presence of hydrochloric acid cause violent polymerization. Alcohol and glycols in the presence of hydrochloric acid lead to dehydration reactions. [1, 3]

Incompatibility with various substances

Special remarks on reactivity

high thermal stability. [1]

Physical, chemical and biological coefficients

Koc

Kow log Pow

0.25 [1, 2, 4]

pKa

Henry-constant

 2.04X10+6 mol/L atm (4.90X10-10 atm-cu m/mol) /Hydrochloric acid/  [3]

ENVIRONMENTAL FATE AND BEHAVIOUR

Artificial pollution sources

Hydrogen chloride and hydrochloric acid production and use as a chemical intermediate and laboratory reagent, production of metals, refining, leather tanning, rubber production, in food processing, disinfectant and sanitizerand as a pharmaceutical aid may result in the release of hydrogen chloride or hydrochloric acid to the environment through various waste streams. Hydrogen chloride's use in oil and gas well treatment, formation during the burning of many plastics and combustion of fossil fuel use as a fungicide and slimicide and use in hydraulic fracturing to dissolve minerals and initiate cracks in the rocks will result in its direct release to the environment. [3]

General terrestrial fate

If released to soil, it dissociates into chloride and hydronium ions in moist soil. Volatilization from moist soil surfaces is not expected to be an important fate process based upon a estimated Henry's Law constant Hydrogen chloride will evaporate from dry soil surfaces. [3]

General aquatic fate

If released to water, hydrogen chloride dissociates readily in water to chloride and hydronium ions. The dissociation results in a decreasing of the pH of the water. Volatilization from water surfaces is not expected to be an important fate process based upon this compound's Henry's Law constant. [3]

General atmospheric fate

Hydrochloric acid is found in the gases that evolve from volcanoes. Hydrochloric acid is also found in the digestive tract of most mammals. If released to air, hydrogen chloride will be removed by rainfall.  Anhydrous hydrogen chloride released into the air will be in the vapor form. Once released to the environment it will react with atmospheric moisture and standing water to form hydrochloric acid. Hydrogen chloride is removed from air by wet deposition as chloride salts with an atmospheric lifetime of 1-5 days. [3]

General persistence and degradability

Abiotic degradation and metabolites

Hydrogen chloride is removed from air by wet deposition as chloride salts with an atmospheric lifetime of 1-5 days. Hydrogen chloride dissociates readily in water to chloride and hydronium ions, decreasing the pH of the water.  [3]

Biodegradation and metabolites

Bioconcentration

Hydrogen chloride dissociates readily in water to chloride and hydronium ions. Therefore, hydrogen chloride does not accumulate in the aquatic organisms. [3]

Volatilization

The Henry's Law constant for hydrogen chloride is 2.04X10⁺⁶ mol/L atm (4.90X10^-10 m³ atm/mol). This Henry's Law constant indicates that hydrogen chloride is expected to be essentially non-volatile from water and moist soil surfaces. Hydrogen chloride will evaporate from dry soil surfaces [3].

Photolysis

Hydrolysis

Soil adsorption and mobility

Hydrogen chloride dissociates into chloride and hydronium ions in moist soil. [3]

ENVIRONMENTAL CONCENTRATIONS

Measured data

The UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme) reported the mean, the 10th-pecentile and the 90th-percentile of chloride concentrations in 77 rivers were 41.1, 1.1 and 64.8 mg/L, respectively.  This global water quality monitoring was conducted in North America, South-America, Asia,  Africa, Europe and Oceania. The chloride concentration is tightly related to the geological parameters and human activities and chloride is also extensively distributed into the environment. Thus the chloride concentration is not only related to the release of hydrogen chloride/hydrochloric acid into the environment. Regarding the H+ concentration measured as pH, UNEP reported that the average annual pH values were between 6.5 and 8.3. [2]

ECOTOXICOLOGICAL INFORMATION

General adverse effects on ecosystem

Acute toxicity (LC50, EC50)

Aquatic systems

Terrestrial systems

The hazard of hydrochloric acid for the environment is caused by the proton (pH effect). For this reason the effect of hydrochloric acid on the organisms depends on the buffer capacity of the aquatic ecosystem. Also the variation in acute toxicity for aquatic organisms can be explained for a significant extent by the variation in buffer capacity of the test medium. For example, LC₅₀ values of acute fish toxicity tests varied from 4.92 to 282 mg/L. [3]  Microorganisms: EC50 / LC50: 230 µg/L [5]

Chronic toxicity (NOEC, LOEC)

No long-term or chronic toxicity data on invertebrates have been reported. No long-term or chronic toxicity data on fish have been reported.  [2]

Aquatic systems

Terrestrial systems

There is only one study available on acute and chronic toxicity to unicellular green algae. For Selenastrum capricornutum, 72h EC₅₀ and NOEC based on growth rate are pH 5.3 (equivalent to a substance concentration of 0.492 mg/L) and pH 6.0 (0.097 mg/L), respectively. A long-term toxicity test has been performed on Selenastrum capricornutum. The 72h NOEC on biomass and growth rate was pH 6.0 (0.097 mg/L).  [2]

HUMAN HEALTH EFFECTS and PROTECTION

Routes of human exposures

Serious local effects by all routes of exposure. The substance can be absorbed into the body by inhalation. [4]

General effects

Effects of short-term exposure: Rapid evaporation of the liquid may cause frostbite. The substance is corrosive to the eyes, skin and respiratory tract. Inhalation of this gas may cause asthma-like reactions (RADS). Exposure could cause asphyxiation due to swelling in the throat. Inhalation of high concentrations may cause lung oedema, but only after initial corrosive effects on the eyes and the upper respiratory tract have become manifest. Inhalation of high concentrations may cause pneumonitis.

Effects of long-term or repeated exposure: Repeated or prolonged inhalation may cause effects on the teeth. This may result in tooth erosion. The substance may have effects on the upper respiratory tract and lungs. This may result in chronic inflammation of the respiratory tract and reduced lung function. Mists of this strong inorganic acid are carcinogenic to humans. [4]

Endocrine disruption

Mutagenicity

In bacteria: negative by AMES, but Rec Assay are positive  [2]

Mammals cell: Chromosome aberration (Sister Chromatide exchanged so had negative and positive results too (mouse lymphoma) in different studies. Mutagenic effects of hydrochloric acid were obtained in the sex linked recessive lethal study with D. melanogaster by inhalation of vapour or larval feeding of the solution (only one dose level tested). [2]

Carcinogenicity

There is inadequate evidence for the carcinogenicity in humans of hydrochloric acid. There is inadequate evidence for the carcinogenicity in experimental animals of hydrochloric acid. Hydrochloric acid is not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans (Group 3). [3]  NOAEC 15 mg/m³ (chronic, rat) (Inhalation route) [5]

Reprotoxicity

Teratogenicity

Skin, eye and respiratory irritations

Metabolism:

absorption, distribution & excretion

very irritative. An aqueous solution (4%) of hydrogen chloride was slightly irritating, and a 10% solution was determined to be 'Irritating to skin' in human volunteer experiments. [1, 2, 3]

Increased urinary excretion of the chloride ion were observed in rats and dogs intravenously injected 0.15 M hydrochloric acid solution.

Exposure limits

TLV: 2 ppm as STEL; A4 (not classifiable as a human carcinogen).
MAK: 3.0 mg/m3, 2 ppm; peak limitation category: I(2); pregnancy risk group: C.
EU-OEL: 8 mg/m3, 5 ppm as TWA; 15 mg/m3, 10 ppm as STEL [4] 

Drinking water MAC

3 mg/m3; 2 ppm  [4]

Other information

Animal toxicity data

Acute toxicity (LD50)

Inhalation route:

LC50 (30 min) 8.3 mg/L air (rat)

LC50 (30 min) 4 701 ppm (rat)

LC50 (5 min) 45.6 mg/L air (rat)

LC50 (5 min) 40 989 ppm (rat)

Most conservative value: LC50 7 051 mg/m³ [5]

Chronic toxicity (NOEL, LOEL)

Inhalation route - systemic effects:

NOAEC 30 mg/m³ (subchronic, rat)

Inhalation route - local effects:

NOAEC 15 mg/m³ (subchronic, rat)   [5]

ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS AND REGULATIONS

Danger! According to the classification provided by companies to ECHA in REACH registrations this substance causes severe skin burns and eye damage, is toxic if inhaled, may damage fertility or the unborn child, causes serious eye damage, may cause damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure, may be corrosive to metals and may cause respiratory irritation.

According to REACH registrations:

H335: May cause respiratory irritation. H314: Causes severe skin burns and eye damage. H331: Toxic if inhaled. H290: May be corrosive to metals. H318: Causes serious eye damage.

According to CLP notifications:

H335: May cause respiratory irritation. H314: Causes severe skin burns and eye damage. H331: Toxic if inhaled. H290: May be corrosive to metals. H318: Causes serious eye damage. H302: Harmful if swallowed.  H311: Toxic in contact with skin. 

EINECS regulation

listed

OSHA regulations etc.

HE3, HE4, HE11, HE14

Permissible Exposure Limit: Ceiling value: 5 ppm (7 mg/cu m) [1, 6]

OTHER INFORMATION, SPECIAL REMARKS

CREATED, LAST UPDATE

Created:             

Last updated:  

12. 04. 2018

25. 09. 2019

REFERENCES

 [1] Open Chemistry database, PUBCHEM,  Available from: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/313#section=Top. [Accessed: 2018.04.12.] https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/hydrochloric_acid#section=GHS-Classification [Accessed: 2018.06.20.]

[2] International Program on Chemical Safety INCHEM. OECD SIDS Available from: http://www.inchem.org/documents/sids/sids/7647010.pdf.  [Accessed : 2018.04.12.]

[3] TOXNET. Toxicology Data Network. Available from: https://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/search2/r?dbs+hsdb:@term+@rn+@rel+7647-01-0. [Accessed:2018.04.12.]

[4] International Program on Chemical Safety INCHEM, ICSC  Available from: http://www.inchem.org/documents/icsc/icsc/eics0163.htm  [Accessed : 2018.06.18.]

 [5] European Chemicals Agency - ECHA  Available from: https://echa.europa.eu/hu/brief-profile/-/briefprofile/100.028.723 [Accessed : 2018. 06. 18.]

[6] OSHA. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Available from:    https://www.osha.gov/dts/chemicalsampling/data/CH_246300.html. [Accessed: 2018.04.12.]

https://www.osha.gov/chemicaldata/chemResult.html?recNo=620 [Accessed: 2018.06.20.]

 [7] Wikipedia, Hydrochloric acid: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrochloric_acid [Accessed: 2019.09.25.]